Adam Taggart edged ahead in the race for the A-League Golden Boot and in the process earned the Newcastle Jets a crucial 1-0 win over Melbourne Heart at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.

The striker's 53rd minute tap-in might not be his most memorable goal but it could prove the most valuable. It was good enough to break the deadlock and submit Heart to its first loss since a 3-0 defeat by Perth on January 14.

The goal was Taggart's 11th of the season and moved him one clear of David Williams (Heart), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory) and Stein Huysegems (Wellington Phoenix).

On another night, the 20-year-old could have scored four.

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Three times he was one-on-one with Heart keeper Andrew Redmayne and three times he was denied by desperate saves.

In the end it didn't matter.

On life support two weeks ago, the Jets have won two on the bounce to move to 29 points and are on track for a finals berth.

They were forced into a late change after Joel Griffiths aggravated a rib injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Craig Goodwin.

Heart, whipping boys earlier in the season, entered the round 22 clash on the back of five wins and was unbeaten in seven.

The season-changing run started with a 3-1 win over the Jets at AAMI Park in round 15. Since that defeat, the Jets had recorded two wins and draw, but were fresh from a stunning 2-0 triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers.

Iain Ramsay missed a golden chance inside 30 seconds to put the visitors ahead when he sprayed a free header past the left post.

The Jets lived dangerously early.

Keeper Mark Birighitti had a lucky escape in the 10th minute when he came out to claim a cross but was short.

The ball fell to Jonatan Germano, who hooked an overhead shot with his right foot that beat everything but the left post.

Williams was the first to the rebound but Josh Brillante made a desperate lunge and applied enough pressure to force the shot wide.

Although under pressure, the Jets scrambled well and got a foot in when needed.

Emile Heskey had their best chance when he climbed high to meet an in-swinging free kick from Goodwin.

The Heart had 58 per cent possession and the better of territory at the break but struggled to get into rhythm. The game was in desperate need of a goal.

That came seven minutes into the second half.

The Jets broke quickly from inside their own half. Ruben Zadkovich knocked a ball over the top for Brillante.

The right back burned off Aziz Behich and then whipped a cross in for Taggart to tap in.

1 comment so far

Taggart no doubt a talent and he can go far. But HeartFC were monstered out of this game with Engelaar marked by Zadko &Co. to make sure he had little influence on the game. It worked and HeartFC failed to deal with the physicality. The pitch was a cow paddock which made play along the ground almost impossible.

8 Mar
Kevin Muscat was able to breathe a sigh of relief - as well he might - when his Melbourne Victory side managed to grab the three points from Central Coast Mariners on Friday night, giving themselves clear breathing space in a congested ladder as teams battle for a spot in the A-League finals.